NrsCyn2011

I work in a hospital where we are timed to make turn-around at three hours per pt. the hospital has also just put out a commercial that tells the locals that EMS has beds before they arrive. While this is true, it's opened the door to even more morons calling 911 for "nausea, because I didn't want to go to work" (at McDonald's.....this is also true), etc. unfortunately this won't change and I too have noticed that I'm becoming a bit bitter. I am one of the ones that generally holds my tongue to keep professional but sometimes it could be very hard to do. I have, however, educated my pts on the use of the ER for their non-emergencies and alternatives. I think that as nurses we should also be educating the pts on the proper use of emergency resources, but the fact of the matter is that it comes with the job. It might be time for a long vacation or change of specialty before you really begin to hate your job.

Thank you! I'd be looking to go to the knoxville area. This is helpful in knowing what other hospitals are available.

Thanks for the heads up on other facilities. What is "The Med"? What is the pt volume there? I'm used to 500+ pts a shift (we've been known to get upwards if 600-needless to say we are VERY busy). Thanks for responding to the thread and the info, I appreciate it.

Hello, I am an ER nurse in a very busy hospital in central florida. I was wondering if I could get some insight on the ER in UTMC, as my husband and I are considering a transfer. I would like to know things like the pt to nurse ratio, shifts (three in a row or split), time off, benefits, pay, opportunities (such as extra certifications etc), is it usually adequately staffed, pt volume, etc..... I have it pretty good where I work and I love what I do, but my hubby is in the military and can possibly get a transfer there. Thanks in advance for any information that can be provided! Cynthia :)

I'd do some resume swapping if I already had one ready to go. I'm actually kind of embarassed to say, I'm not sure where to start with my resume. I have experience as a firefighter/paramedic for a year, but no other medical experience other than my clinical time as a student. I graduate in December and would like to send in my resume to a couple of area hospitals, but I don't know if fear has me kinda dumbstruck. If anyone can help/guide me I would GREATLY appreciate it!

From student to student- glad you could vent. Now let's look at this situation from a different view. These nurses are sometimes overworked, overloaded, are human and also have their own problems to deal with aside from their patients and their families. If you expect to make it to the end of nursing school, dont take any of it personal. Find yourself a new nurse or just work quietly and you might actually be surprised at the results. Remember, you don't have to be best friends but you do have to respect in order to be respected- and in all honesty, you may end up working with nurses who are not very personable on the floor when you are official. Does that mean you're going to quit? After all the studying, pulling all nighters, having no social life, having tense relationships, eating/sleeping/living the nursing books. I think not. Bite the bullet and show them what you got. Best of luck. Just don't forget where you came from when you become an official nurse, so that you don't make students feel the way you and many others do.

From the bit I read, I'd say you are pretty cocky and a turn off as a candidate. Yes, you may have all the bells and whistles....but to be honest, they're too loud- and personally, I definitely wouldn't want to work with someone like that. You make it seem as if you know it all, and quite frankly if you did you wouldn't have put up this post. I suggest you keep trying, but with a more humble attitude. I myself will be a new grad in December, and I know that things are not the way they used to be a few years ago. But again, look around and see all the people with educations, who were in top positions that may be bagging your groceries or taking your order- they may not like it, but I'm sure they are grateful for a job. So be grateful to have the opportunity to interview, even if it leads to nothing. Eventually you will get a job and as you say, if you know you will excel, then you will. I am also at the top of my class, honor society, NSNA board member, etc.-but I know I can't count on that to get me a job. Hopefully a smile and just a sincere interest to work will give me a chance, and only then will I add the fact that I have a list of acheivements.....a better reason to hire me. Best of luck. If you're such an acheiver then you know you will land a job

thanks for clarifying that. i appreciate it. any info that i can get is great! how long then is tech school? any input you can give is very much appreciated!

Hello, I don't know too much but I'm looking to join when I get my RN and here's the info I have found out (reserves): 1-currently have to have a BSN 2- go through OTS (officer training school) 2 or 4 week program...I was told to do the 2 week because it was only reservists but if you want to go active duty then it would be the 4 week program. Maxwell AFB, AL 3-reserves does 80% of the mission of aeromedical evacuation, active duty as far as I have found out will fly their first year and then get put in a hospital 4- water survival 2 days-Fairchild AFB, WA 5-combat survival 19 days-Fairchild AFB,WA 6-flight school-31 days Brooks City Base, TX 7-basic qualification - whichever squadron youre in 8-phase 1 training (tech school)-69 days Sheppard AFB,TX 9-Phase 2 training-30 days-varies where 10-phase 3 training- 90 days-varies where 11- basic qualification -180 days- your squadron 12-annual tour-15 days 13-UTA weekends- 24 days a year 14- currency flights- every 90 days (your flight hours become like another UTA weekend, so you do more that traditional reservists) 15- altitude chamber-every 5 years 16-flight exam- yearly 17-ACLS/CPR-every 2 years 18-CEU's (cont. edu. credits)- 60/3 years 19- AEF deployments (iraq/afghanistan/germany) 180 days (if activated) 20-AECOT- every 5 years-Sheppard AFB.TX 21-check rides-every 18 months and of course continued training, presidential recall, and any other training that may come this is what i have from talking to different people, including flight nurses in the reserve. i would suggest going to a recruiter that is specifically for medical fields. it can be a bit discouraging becuase if you don't already have your BSN they always seem reluctant to speak to you. Also, if there is an aero medical squadron (AES)in a base near you and you have access, I'd call or go in and talk to people. that's how I've gotten my info...otherwise, I'd be at the mercy of the recruiter who refuses to really give me info because I don't have my BSN yet. I'd also go ahead and get my paramedic license. That takes about a year and will get you the CPR/ACLS/ITLs or PHTLS/ PALS or PEPP. That's all I could think of right now. Hope it helps. Good luck

I am going to join as soon as I get my BSN and have spoken to a reserve flight nurse. At this point the AF is only accepting BSN even for reserves, although in the past they have accepted ASN's, but that is when they are really really low on flight nurses. Also, according to her, your time spent as a reservists is different than traditional reservists because you have to fly every 90 days. You have to go through basically the same requirements as pilots when it comes to flying (flight physical and a 6 week flight class), a 6 week nursing flight class, water survival/POW camp survival, tech school, etc which would be about 6 months straight, after comissioning and going through OTS (which is also 6 weeks). The flight school is currently in a classroom, although they are trying to implement a program where you fly and when that school is over then you come back to home base. She also said it is hard to work as a FT nurse and be a flight nurse in the reserves because of the flight hours and regular time you have to put in. OTC is in Maxwell AFB, AL, the rest of the training in San Antonio (Lackland AFB). She says that in twenty something odd years shes been activated twice, but all other trips shes signed up for. I would suggest finding an aeromedical squadron nearest you and speak with someone from there. You can ask a recruiter for that info, or if you already have access to go on base then just go and talk to anyone. I called the squadron where I live and they were more than willing to speak to me and give me info. hope this helps a little

I agree. As much as us medics would like to refuse calls for so called "emergencies" that can actually be taking us away from "good calls", sometimes we are better off just taking them. Granted it's another report to write and yes of course they all seem to come at 3 in the morning, but I can't tell a patient what he/she is/isn't feeling and I can't risk losing my job for that.

They take a cumulative GPA of ALL classes you have taken for people without a previous Bachelors. In your case I'm not sure but they do hold info seminars where I'm sure you can get an answer. You can find the date and times on the college of nursing page. See Here--->http://health.usf.edu/nocms/nursing/docs/student_services/InformationSessions.pdf The next one is July 16 @ 12pm in MDN 2007. Before you start, I know that you have to change your major to pre-nursing as an undergraduate. Make sure that all your pre-reqs are accepted by USF....the info seminar I went to a girl had taken a child psych class and it didnt count as the psych pre-req for the college because it was too specific, so beware of that. Hope this helps some :wink2:

i am waiting to hear back form the college of nursing to see if i got in for this fall. one thing you should keep in mind is that they say you only need a 3.2 to get in but in reality its a 3.67. the last two semesters, the lowest gpa they took was a 3.67....and they dont look at any previous experience, they strictly go by gpa. im a medic and asked if that would help me any...a big no. hopefully ill get in, and if i do ill be more than happy to let you know how it is

i forgot to mention that being enlisted means its also hard to go to school. weird work schedules, deployments, tdy, etc can keep you from studying, plus i dont know of nay nursing programs that do one class here one class there, its usually a whole program deal, which is why the AF offers that program where you put in a package for nursing program and all you do is go to school while getting paid rank. :smackingf

Hi there, I'm kind of in the same boat as you although I have decided I want to do the Air Force. Good benefits, good pay, 30 days paid leave immediately, good retirement, medical, shortest deployments, etc. I am a medic wanting to get my BSN. The Air Force has a program for active duty and reserve where you come in enlisted and apply to go to nursing school (everything paid). You can go in as a med tech and put in a package for nursing. Provided your package is accepted than your "job" would be to go to school. After that I think you can comission, but I just talked to a recruiter and I don't know if he's BSing me to get me in enlisted or if there is no guarantee that when your done with your BSN you dont get commissioned.....still looking into that. You can also check at a university because you can also do ROTC in conjunction with nursing and when you are done and get your license you are comissioned and sent ot OTS. They are in great need of nurses, as I am told and will pay everything, but I'm not sure if that varies from state to state. (I'm in Florida). If you don't mind we can exchange info as we go to see what's best. I want to be a flight nurse, so I'd have to go through other training after nursing. Another thing, the recruiter just told me that going in as flight med tech (enlisted) reserve that I would train 2 weekends out of the month instead of just one, because I'd have to do my regular weekend and then one to fly. I think its 90 hours a year to keep up with flight status. The whole process of coming in enlisted, going through basic, then tech school then finally being able to put in a package for nursing according to the recruiter is a year to 18 months.....so maybe finishing my nursing is better.....becuase if i think about it, its 18 months doing med tech, then 2 years for my BSN (already have all my prereqs), then go thought OTS and tech school......maybe3 1/2 years versus 2. hope this all helps good luck